The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-29
NEW BILLS.
In tho House.

In tho House.
The House to-day went into committee of
the whole with Mr. FELTON,, of Bib county,
in the chair on Dr. Felton's bill to create
and establish refornlatory prison or house
of correction for juveniles and all female
convicts who may be convicted of crimes
not punishable with death and who may
hereafter be sentenced by the courts of
Georgia to the penitentiary or chain-gang
Or to work on the public works in n chain
gang, to provide for the same
and for other purposes. Dir Felton,
held the floor till the committee rose. He
said he had introduced the bill in the in
terest of a majority of the people Of
Georgia. 1t was substantially the same bill
which he introduced at the last session,-and
which then received forty-nine votes He
hoped it would now receive majority.
The bill was right and just between
man and man, and if he
should be a legislator for twenty years he
would offer it at every session until its
passage. Tie wanted a full and fair csnsid
GRAFTON of the bill, aud if it were nOtacccpt-
able let it be made so. He had, through his
rolengue, already offered two amendments,
and he had heard other amendments offered
which he thought would be acceptable to
him He explained the main object of the
bill He said that, outside of a few of our
Southern States, there was not a civilized
nation in the world that did not have an
institution similar to that proposed by the
bill. Let us review our preconceived no.
tiors and preiudices today
THE LESsEEs NOT INTERVIEWED WITH.
The bill does not Interfere with the present
lease system or with the rights of the lesseeS,
nor does it interfere with any of the con-
victS now in the penitcntiary. 1t applies
only to those who may hereafter be CON
victed and sentenced to the house of correc-
ton on the recommendation Of the jury.
Are You prepared to question the honor or
the patriotism OF the jury. If you do all
you can to dofeat this bill you set up your
opinion as more reasonable and Just than
t3at of the jury trying the
case. Thu BILL while not ip-
terfcring with the rights of the lessccs,
made provision for the reception of any
convicts of the class to which the bill applies
if they choose to surrender them, but as to
future convicts the bill does not ask the con
sent of tho lessees The convictS in the
House of Correction would not be there as
benefCiaries of the State or as exempt from
punishment They would go there as con-
victed criminals for a term. Murderers,
rapists or house burners are not TO be
there. The bill merely changes
tae place and mode of punishment.
Are We not Sovcreign9 The bill only
claims the sovereign power Of the state to
dispose of her criminals as she thinks proper.
The bill would send youths and women to
the reformatory prison for correction, inn
Drovement and reform.
NOT MAUDLIN SYMPATHY.
The motive of the bill was not maudlin
sympathy for criminals. He was disguised
with such sympathy as was sometimes OK
hibted in Northern and even some South
ern cities. People who gusb ovdr con-
damned criminals of the worst type were
unworthy the name of men, though wear
Ing the garb of manhood. The object OF
the bill is not undue sympathy with the
criminal, but the protection Of society. Tie
pathetlcally appealed 70 the house to pro-
tect the negroes as VOL as the whites in
their rights and homes, nnd not to visit
upon them harsh or Vindictive punish
ment He put a hypothetical case
to Illustrate the reformatQry influences and
effects of institutions such as the bill pro
posed. The convicts sent to thep were not
only subjected to hard labor, but they were
instructed morally and taught the advan-
tages of bettaT life. They go out with in
dustrious habits and improved mornls
The records of institutions of this kind
show that from IS to so per cent. 90 out re-
formed and bettered. He referred to the
cases in which woman at the Dade coal
mines had been delivered of two children,
and a girl had been sentenced to loves
camp for long term for a trivial offense.
THE STATE PRocUREss.
He had said on a former occasion that
the State of Georgia, by continuing the
present system, was acting as procurcss
for the lesSees or their managers. He
alluded to the startling disclosures lately
made of the nefarious acts Of individual
PROGRESSES, and said that the State of
Georgia was engaged in that business, and
kept the supply up TO the demand. He had
been informed that the TRUSTEES at one of the
camps and the female convicts had been in
discriminatory sexual. He had also been iu-
formed that the convicts at one of the camps
were sometimes worked before dav and
pm Sunday. He mentioned preacher who
had long tried TO get on opportunity 10
preach to the convicts at the brick ward
camp and had never succeeded. He also re-
terred to cases Of convicts gambling for
their Tations. Youths confined at such
places learned from hardened criminals
their modes of committing crime, and went
forth prepared TO engage in the same lnsi-
ness He thought that crime in the United
States increased faster than in any othar
country on Gods globe The reason was
that the Bible and the churches never
reached the criminal classes.
A STRONG APPEAL
Let us as legislators initiate a measure
Tint looks 20 the correction Of the criminal
tendencies OF the age-a returmatorY school
for women and children that looks to the
better!ng Of their morals and lives. lie be
heved that Georgia was as free from crime
as any State of the Union, but he wanted
ibis institution for the protection of The
lives and property of her people. He said
that female and juvenile convicts had better
Dc sent to the bottomless pit than to loves
Or james camp. He pleaded for them 70
rescue them from such fate
His friend from Dougherty would
read bin Of fare which he wished for the
convicts, but nevertheless DR. 1Westnore-
lands report showed there was suffering at
tho camps and cruel treatment, and dis
ease produced by the same causes as pro-
duced scurvy. II was the effect of starva-
ton and filth. God save Georgia
from prison system that
Is multiplying crime ard misery
DR. i. lion rt odcd that tho or,r,,.o,,,.s i,,e